Verbena plant named &#39;radverb&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Verbena  plant is provided that is a newly found seedling of unknown parentage. Over an extended period of time attractive fragrant blossoms that are purple in coloration are produced. The growth habit is moderately vigorous and trailing and spreading. Attractive medium green foliage is formed that contrasts nicely with the blossom coloration. The plant has been found to be hardy to U.S.D.A. Hardiness Zone No. 6 and also is hardy in Zone No. 5 with the use of protection. The plant can be grown to advantage to provide attractive ornamentation in parks and gardens.

BOTANICAL/COMMERCIAL CLASSIFICATION

Verbena hybrida/Verbena Plant

VARIETAL DENOMINATION cv. Radverb SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A new and distinct highly ornamental perennial Verbena cultivar is provided.

During 1995 an unusual Verbena plant of unknown parentage was discovered while growing in a residential setting at Rockford, Ill., U.S.A. An open-pollinated progeny of this plant was transplanted to a growing site at Greenfield, Wis., U.S.A. The new cultivar of the present invention is a selection of open-pollinated progeny of the plant being grown at Greenfield, Wis., U.S.A. The new cultivar was selected primarily in view of the appearance of the blossoms, foliage, and the manifest superior hardiness. Had the single plant of the new cultivar not been discovered and preserved it would have been lost to mankind. The new cultivar further has been grown and evaluated near West Grove, Pa., U.S.A.

It was found that the new perennial Verbena plant displays the following combination of characteristics:

-   -   (a) forms in abundance over an extended period of time         attractive fragrant blossoms that are purple in coloration,     -   (b) exhibits a moderately vigorous trailing and spreading growth         habit,     -   (c) forms attractive medium green foliage that contrasts nicely         with the blossom coloration,     -   (d) displays good cold hardiness, and     -   (e) is well suited for growing as attractive ornamentation.

The new cultivar is commonly substantially continuously flowering from spring to fall when grown outdoors, and commonly blossoms throughout the year under greenhouse growing conditions.

The new cultivar can be distinguished from all other Verbena plants of which we are aware. More specifically, the new cultivar can be readily distinguished from the ‘Homestead Purple’ cultivar (non-patented in the United States) in view of, inter alia, the display by the new cultivar of slightly smaller flowers, a smoother leaf texture, more flower fragrance, and greater hardiness during observations to date.

The new cultivar well meets the needs of the horticultural industry and can be grown to advantage as attractive ornamentation in parks, gardens, public areas, and residential landscapes.

The new cultivar has been asexually reproduced by the rooting of cuttings. Such asexual reproduction as performed at Greenfield, Wis., U.S.A. and near West Grove, Pa., U.S.A. has demonstrated that the characteristics of the new cultivar are firmly fixed and stable and are strictly transmissible from one generation to another. The new cultivar asexually reproduces in a true-to-type manner from one generation to another.

The new cultivar has been named ‘Radverb’, and will be marketed in the United States under the SWEET THING trademark.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph shows as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in a color illustration of this character a typical specimen of the new cultivar while growing outdoors during the month of May near West Grove, Pa., U.S.A.

FIG. 1 shows a profusion of the attractive purple blossoms in various stages of development as well as the medium green foliage.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The chart used in the identification of colors is that of The Royal Horticultural Society (R.H.S. Colour Chart—2001 Edition), London, England. Color terminology in common terms sometimes is included as an aid to the reader. Such color terminology is to be accorded its customary dictionary significance. The description is based on the observation of typical specimens of the new cultivar during the month of August while growing outdoors in containers near West Grove, Pa., U.S.A. Such specimens had been asexually reproduced by the rooting of cuttings.

-   Plant:     -   -   Form.—moderately vigorous, trailing and spreading.         -   Growth habit.—perennial.         -   Height.—approximately 24 cm on average.         -   Width.—approximately 50 cm on average.         -   Strength.—relatively strong.         -   Branch length.—commonly approximately 25 cm on average.         -   Branch number.—commonly approximately 18 main branches on             average.         -   Branch cross-section.—commonly somewhat square.         -   Branch thickness.—commonly approximately 3 mm on average.         -   Branch texture.—pubescent.         -   Central internode length.—commonly approximately 3.5 cm on             average.         -   Stem color.—commonly Yellow-Green Group 145A to Yellow-Green             Group 146D when immature and mature. -   Foliage:     -   -   Arrangement.—opposite.         -   Shape.—lanceolate.         -   Margin.—incised.         -   Apex.—acute.         -   Base.—aequilateral.         -   Venation.—reticulate or net-veined.         -   Leaf length.—commonly approximately 4 cm on average.         -   Leaf width.—commonly approximately 2 cm on average.         -   Leaf texture.—upper surface: smooth with a few pubescent             hairs. — under surface: coarse with elevated venation and             pubescent hair.         -   Leaf quantity.—commonly approximately 20 leaves on average             per stem.         -   Color.—upper surface: Green Group 137A to Yellow-Green 143A             when young and mature. — lower surface: Yellow-Green Group             146D to Yellow-Green Group 147C when young and mature.         -   Fragrance.—earthy scent.         -   Lastingness.—the blossoms commonly last approximately 5 to 7             days on the plant.         -   Petiole.—commonly approximately 2.5 cm in length,             approximately 2 mm in diameter, lightly coarse with the             presence of hirsute hairs, and Green Group 143C in             coloration. -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Type.—corymb, sessile, salverform.         -   Length.—commonly approximately 2 cm on average.         -   Width.—commonly approximately 4 cm on average.         -   Number.—commonly approximately 20 to 30 per plant.         -   Flowers per inflorescence.—commonly approximately 6 on             average.         -   Buds.—shape: just before opening elongated, and globular at             the apex. — length: approximately 1 cm on average. —             diameter: approximately 3 mm on average at the widest point.         -   Corolla.—shape: generally round. — diameter: commonly             approximately 2.2 cm on average. — depth: commonly             approximately 2.5 cm on average.         -   Petals.—number 5 which are fused at the base to form a tube.             — shape: obovate. — length: commonly approximately 1.1 cm on             average for an upper petal measured from the tube, commonly             approximately 1.0 cm on average for a lateral petal measured             from the tube, and commonly approximately 1.0 cm on average             for a lower petal measured from the tube. — width: commonly             approximately 1.1 cm on average for an upper petal, commonly             approximately 9.2 mm on average for a lateral petal measured             from the tube, and commonly approximately 6 mm on average             for a lower petal. — margin: entire. — apex: emarginate. —             texture: satiny on upper and under surfaces and velvety in             appearance. — color: when first open near Purple Group 78A             on the upper surface and near Purple Group 78C on the under             surface, and when fully open near Purple Group 78B on the             upper surface and near Purple Group 78C on the under             surface.         -   Corolla tube.—length: commonly approximately 1.5 cm on             average. — diameter: commonly approximately 2 mm on average             at the distal and proximal ends.         -   Androecium.—quantity: 4 per flower. — filament length:             commonly approximately 1.7 cm on average. — anther shape:             generally ovoid. — anther size: commonly approximately 1 mm             on average. — anther color: near Yellow-Green Group 150C. —             pollen quantity: sparse. — pollen color near Yellow-Green             Group 150D.         -   Gyneocium.—quantity: 1 per flower. — style length: commonly             approximately 1.7 cm on average. — style color: near             Yellow-Green Group 143A. — stigma shape: biparted. — stigma             size: commonly less than 1 mm. — stigma color: near Green             Group 144A. — ovary size: commonly approximately 1 mm. —             ovary color: near Yellow-Green Group 144A.         -   Calyx.—shape: tubular with 5 acute tips. — length: commonly             approximately 1.2 cm on average. — width: commonly             approximately 2 mm on average. — texture: densely pubescent             with a mixture of glandular and non-glandular hairs. — gland             color: substantially colorless.         -   Stipules.—shape: lanceolate. — length: commonly             approximately 7 mm on average. — width: commonly             approximately 4 mm on average at the base. — apex:             acuminate. — texture: densely pubescent with a mixture of             glandular and non-glandular hairs. — color: commonly between             Green Group 143A and 143B.         -   Peduncle.—bearing: generally erect. — strength: moderately             strong. — length: commonly approximately 4 cm on average. —             diameter: commonly approximately 2 mm on average. — texture:             densely pubescent with a mixture of glandular and             non-glandular hairs. -   Development:     -   -   Vegetation.—moderately vigorous.         -   Blooming.—substantially continuous from spring through the             fall when grown outdoors.         -   Disease resistance.—no special resistance to diseases common             to Verbena has been observed during observations to date.         -   Pest resistance.—no special resistance to pests common to             Verbena has been observed during observations to date.         -   Hardiness.—during observations to date has been found hardy             to U.S.D.A. Hardiness Zone No. 6 with some hardiness in Zone             No. 5 when protection is provided. -   Plants of the ‘Radverb’ cultivar have not been observed under all     possible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is     possible that the phenotypic expression may vary somewhat with     changes in light intensity and duration, cultural practices, and     other environmental conditions without variance of the genotype. 

1. A new and distinct Verbena plant characterized by the following combination of characteristics: (a) forms in abundance over an extended period of time attractive fragrant blossoms that are purple in coloration, (b) exhibits a moderately vigorous trailing and spreading growth habit, (c) forms attractive medium green foliage that contrasts nicely with the blossom coloration, (d) displays good cold hardiness, and (e) is well suited for growing as attractive ornamentation; substantially as illustrated and described. 